Future of the former synagogue: renovation or demolition?

Future of the former synagogue: renovation or demolition?

Bahnstraße 60, 2230 Gänserndorf, Österreich - In Gänserndorf, the dispute over the former synagogue and the adjacent rabbi house continues. The municipal council has made a decision to renovate the synagogue in order to make it usable again for the Musikverein. This was decided in December 2023 and the mayor René Lobner (ÖVP) announced that the roof must be completely renewed because it is in poor condition. The first offers are obtained and searched for financial grants. Lobner also explained that the renovation tolerated a "cultural use or for educational purposes", which also underlines the Israelite culture in the sense of the historical importance of the buildings, as the orf-niederösterrei reported.

dispute over monument protection

opponents of the renovation, especially the Greens, demand the preservation of the buildings and their appropriate restoration. The municipality has already contested the protection position by the Federal Monument Office several times, but the monument status has been repeatedly confirmed. However, the atmosphere between the municipality and the monument office has improved, and it is emphasized that the monument values ​​are taken into account in future planning. The Federal Monument Office itself sees the initiative of the community positively, which could defuse the Current situation somewhat, such as the NÖN reported.

The synagogue, which was built in 1889, and the Rabbi House of 1908 are considered historical witnesses of a significant part of Austrian history. Various social institutions have already been housed in the buildings in the 1950s, and now a renovation by the Musikverein could bring a breath of fresh air to the time-honored walls. However, the future of the rabbi house remains uncertain, another dispute in the ongoing debate.